A West Country company that develops state-of-the-art video communications products is the latest to benefit from the £25 million South West Ventures Fund.

AuPix Ltd has secured investment from the fund which was set up to make venture capital available to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with high-growth potential in the South West region. The company was advised by Mark Greaves of Francis Clark and Garry Mackay from Ashfords.

The Bristol firm's flagship product is the AP-100 VoIP ("voice over IP") video phone which represents a major breakthrough in video communications. Offering the ease of use of a conventional telephone, the AP-100 allows decision-makers to make instant video and audio calls from their desktops for a fraction of typical call costs.

The video phone features a high quality 12" colour screen with touch screen technology and works across local and wide area telephone networks, and the internet. The screen can split to include several participants at once, which makes it ideal for conference calls.

AuPix was established in February this year to acquire the intellectual property rights and assets of video phone technology developed by the SCOTTY Group plc, formerly Motion Media plc.

AuPix founders Graham Brown and John Martin were former directors of Motion Media plc, a company recognised for its technical innovation and expertise in the field of personal video communications.

As well as significant personal investments from AuPix's directors and employees, funding for the management buyout was also secured from external private investors. The additional funding from the South West Ventures Fund will be used to take the business through its next phase of development.

Graham Brown, managing director of AuPix, said: "We have enjoyed six months where we have developed a product with great potential. The additional funding secured from the South West Ventures Fund will allow us to take the AP-100 to the next level. Our vision is to have a video phone on every key decision maker's desk by 2010."

Simon Griffiths, investment manager with South West Ventures Fund, said: "This latest deal on behalf of AuPix represents a great opportunity to support an experienced team with excellent technical knowledge as they take their innovative video phone to market.

"We look forward to working closely with AuPix and other companies in the region that have high growth potential."

Mark Greaves, partner at Francis Clark, commented: "Without the intervention of Graham, John and his colleagues back in February, this technology might have disappeared from the West Country, even gone to the US. The AP-100 is an exciting, innovative product which we are confident will prove successful and profitable for the business, and we are delighted to have been able to help in securing equity funding."

Veale Wasbrough acted for South West Ventures Fund. Robert Collier, an associate, said: "Veale Wasbrough focuses on the local SME market. It is very satisfying to act for the Fund in another transaction that will enable a South West business achieve its full potential."

Garry Mackay, a partner at Ashfords Bristol office, said: "It is a success story for the South West; providing funding and legal and financial advice from within the region which ensures AuPix and this exciting new technology remains in the West Country."

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